Certified generic data processing component for critical task

Abstract

A monitoring system for monitoring equipment has first data processing means for executing a primary, critical task and second data processing means for executing a secondary, non-critical task. The second data processing means receives its power supply from the first data processing means via protective circuitry so as to prevent electrical failures in the second data processing means from affecting operation of the first data processing means.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A data processing system for processing input data, comprising:
 a first data processor configured for performing a primary data processing task, wherein the first data processor comprises:
 a first power input for connection to a single power supply; 
 a first power output; and 
 a protective circuit between the first power input and the first power output, 
 
 wherein the protective circuit comprises a fuse or a current limiter; and 
 a second data processor configured for performing a secondary processing task, wherein the second data processor comprises a second power input connected to the first power output such that the first data processor and the second data processor are powered only via the single power supply during functioning or malfunctioning of the second data processor, such that the first data processor and the second data processor do not each have separate power supplies, 
 wherein the protective circuit of the first data processor is configured for preventing operation of the second data processor from affecting operation of the first data processor via the first power input. 
 
     
     
       2. The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first data processor has a first data input for receiving the input data; and wherein 
 the first data processor has a first data output for supply of output data; and wherein 
 the second data processor has a second data input connected to the first data output; and wherein 
 the first data processor has a further protective circuit for supply of the output data to the first data output; and 
 the further protective circuit is configured for preventing operation of the second data processor from affecting operation of the first data processor via at least one of the first data output and the first data input. 
 
     
     
       3. The data processing system of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the output data is the input data; and 
 the further protective circuit is connected to the first data input and to the first data output. 
 
     
     
       4. The data processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the first data processor is operative to generate the output data by processing the input data. 
     
     
       5. The data processing system of  claim 2 , wherein the further protective circuit comprises a buffer amplifier. 
     
     
       6. A data processing system for processing input data, comprising:
 first data processing means and second data processing means; and wherein 
 the first and second data processing means are powered only by a single power supply during functioning or malfunctioning of the second data processing means, such that the first and second data processing means doe not each have separate power supplies; and wherein 
 the first data processing means is configured for performing a primary data processing task; and wherein 
 the second data processing means is configured for performing a secondary data processing task; and wherein 
 the first data processing means has a first data input for receiving the input data; and wherein 
 the first data processing means has a first data output for supply of output data; and wherein 
 the second data processing means has a second data input connected to the first data output; and wherein 
 the first data processing means has a first protective circuit that comprises a fuse or a current limiter; and wherein 
 the first data processing means has a second protective circuit for supply of the output data to the first data output; and wherein 
 the second protective circuit is configured for preventing operation of the second data processing means from affecting operation of the first data processing means via at least one of the first data output and the first data input. 
 
     
     
       7. The data processing system of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the output data is the input data; and 
 the second protective circuit is connected to the first data input and to the first data output. 
 
     
     
       8. The data processing system of  claim 6 , wherein the first data processing means is operative to generate the output data by processing the input data. 
     
     
       9. The data processing system of  claim 6 , wherein the second protective circuit comprises a buffer amplifier. 
     
     
       10. A monitoring system for monitoring an operational condition of equipment, the monitoring system comprising:
 a sensor for generating a sensor signal indicative of the operational condition; and 
 a data processing system comprises first data processing means and second data processing means; wherein 
 the first data processing means is configured for performing a primary data processing task; and wherein 
 the first data processing means has a first power input for connection to a single power supply, and a first power output; and wherein 
 the first data processing means has a protective circuit between the first power input and the first power output, wherein the protective circuit comprises a fuse or a current limiter, and wherein 
 the second data processing means has a second power input connected to the first power output such that the first data processing means and the second data processing means are powered only via the single power supply during functioning or malfunctioning of the second data processing means, such that the first data processing means and the second data processing means do not each have separate power supplies; and wherein 
 the protective circuit is configured for preventing operation of the second processing means from affecting operation of the first data processing means via the first power input, and wherein 
 the data processing system is configured for monitoring the operational condition of the equipment on the basis of the input data representative of the sensor signal. 
 
     
     
       11. The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the second data processor is not connected to a separate power supply. 
     
     
       12. The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data processor continues to be powered by the single power supply via the first power input even when the protective circuit of the first data processor prevents operation of the second data processor from affecting operation of the first data processor. 
     
     
       13. The data processing system of  claim 1 , wherein the first data processor continues to be powered by the single power supply via the first power input even when a fault occurs in the second data processor.